Little Kentucky Derby fever for Somelikeithotbrown's camp

Skychai Racing partner Harvey Diamond quipped Sunday morning that, in the wake of Somelikeithotbrown’s Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) win at Turfway Park, he had administered his aspirin and Tylenol.

“I have a pretty low degree of (Kentucky) Derby fever,” said Diamond, whose colt picked up 20 points toward a spot in this year’s field, and will likely only need an on-the-board finish in a final prep race to punch his ticket to Churchill Downs.

In the coming days, the Louisville, Ky.-based ownership group will gather to discuss potential next race spots including Keeneland’s Blue Grass Stakes (G2). An additional consideration for the New York-bred is NYRA’s new Turf Triple Series for grass horses beginning in July.

“We have experienced all the hoopla and splendor and all the BS that goes with it — along with the expense that it takes to get a horse into the Derby,” said Diamond, who between he and his fellow Skychai partners have had a stake in six horses in the Run for the Roses since 2011.

Their best finish came with Hansen, ninth in the 2012 Derby.

“Another ninth place in the Derby just to say we ran isn’t what we intend to do, nor do we intend to knock a horse out for a good part of the year trying to fulfill one of our fantasies,” Diamond said. “I think unless you run first or second in a prep race, history will show you you’re not going to win the Derby.”

Somelikeithotbrown took over the lead about a half mile into the Jeff Ruby and led the rest of the way under Tyler Gaffalione. Afterward, trainer Mike Maker mentioned the 1 1/8-mile Blue Grass as an option for the son of Big Brown, who’s now 2-for-2 in the new year.

Diamond confirmed ownership is wanting to give Somelikeithotbrown another opportunity on dirt, over which he hasn’t raced since seventh in a sloppy Saratoga debut.

“Just where, I’m not sure at this point,” he said.

Diamond added: “He sire was a pretty good dirt horse, and he started out on turf.”

The daughters of Skychai partner Jim Shircliff came up with Somelikeithotbrown, a multifaceted moniker that combines a traditional Louisville favorite dish, the hot brown; sire Big Brown; and dam Marilyn Monroan, a gray mare named after the actress who starred in 1959’s “Some Like It Hot.”

Somelikeithotbrown has won three of his seven starts and nearly took the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in his final start at age 2, caught late by Line of Duty and Uncle Benny at Churchill Downs.

Beyond the Derby, the Turf Triple begins in July with the Belmont Derby Invitational (G1) also at 1 1/4 miles. The new series continues with two other $1 million races at Saratoga in August and back at Belmont in September.

“We’ve got three owners, and we’re going to have to put our heads together and try to figure out what’s the best route for this colt,” Diamond said, with Somelikeithotbrown campaigned in partnership with San Dollar Stable. “He’s only had two starts so far in 2019, so he’s reasonably fresh and pretty much ready to go in any direction we point him.”